FWD: >: Burma Refugee Cholera Probe

[BURMAJAPAN@xxxxxxx]

Subject: FWD: >: Burma Refugee Cholera Probed

In a message dated 97-03-09 13:49:24 EST, you write:

>Subj:	Burma Refugee Cholera Probed
>Date:	97-03-09 13:49:24 EST
>From:	AOLNewsProfiles@xxxxxxx
>
><HTML><PRE><I>.c The Associated Press</I></PRE></HTML>
>
>      By PATRICK McDOWELL
>      BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Aid workers were investigating a
>possible outbreak of cholera Sunday as the cause of 15 reported
>deaths among ethnic Karens seeking refuge from a Burmese army
>offensive in camps along the Thai-Burma border.
>      The National Council of the Union of Burma, an umbrella
>organization of Burmese opposition groups, said that relief workers
>allowed into the camps by Thai authorities Sunday reported an
>epidemic of ``serious watery diarrhea'' but could not yet confirm
>cholera.
>      The council said that 14 of the suspected cholera victims had
>died inside Burma, just across the border from Thailand's
>Kanchanaburi province, and one at a Thai camp. The group claimed
>that Thai authorities were slow allowing medical teams access.
>      Relief workers, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The
>Associated Press they also feared a malaria epidemic could sweep
>through the thousands of refugees once the rainy season starts and
>the number of mosquitoes increases.
>      An estimated 15,000 Karens have sought shelter in Thailand since
>the Burmese army launched an offensive last month to stamp out the
>Karen National Union, which has waged a rebellion for more autonomy
>since 1949.
>      Thailand has been criticized by the United States, European
>Union and human rights groups for denying entry to fighting-age
>Karen males and forcing hundreds of men, women and children back
>across the border.
>      The forced repatriations appear to have stopped, but the Thais
>are resisting appeals from human rights groups to place the Karens
>under the care of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Thailand
>views the border people as displaced persons and maintains control
>over their camps.
>      The Bangkok Post newspaper on Sunday quoted Kachadpai
>Buruspattana, deputy chief of Thailand's National Security Council,
>as saying Thailand would facilitate a visit by the UNHCR to the
>refugee camps but said local organizations could care for them.
>      Kachadpai repeated Thailand's irritation at the international
>criticism, noting that the country has sheltered an estimated
>90,000 Karens and other Burmese minority groups over the past
>decade.
>      Thailand will only send the Karens back home once fighting
>stops, Kachadpai said.
>      The Post also carried an interview with Maj. Gen. Thawip
>Suwansing, commander of the Thai army's 9th Division, who denied
>that the repatriations carried out by his troops were forced. The
>general said the refugees were all family members of Karen National
>Union rebels and asked to go back to Burma.
>      AP-NY-03-09-97 1347EST
>      <HTML><PRE><I><FONT COLOR="#000000 SIZE=2>Copyright 1997 The
Associated
>Press.  The information 
>contained in the AP news report may not be published, 
>broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without 
>prior written authority of The Associated Press.<